A record of election posts, Nov. 8-9

[mollyringle]

Preface: Some of you have been around long enough to remember when I used to call myself a conservative (or at least a libertarian), because like a lot of people in their 20s, I had a phase where I read Ayn Rand and listened to charismatic and persuasive conservative friends and didn’t like taxes. But that isn’t me anymore, in case you couldn’t tell. (Well, I still don’t LIKE taxes, but I’m more at peace with them.) In reverse of the “liberal at 20, conservative by 40” trope, I’ve long since come back over to the liberal side, and embraced the values that were, to be honest, always at the heart of my thinking. I mean, I did spend a lot of my supposed conservative phase arguing with those conservative friends, because I was never fully okay with the LGBTQ-derogatory attitudes, the misogyny, the over-reliance on religion, or the stingy healthcare, to name a few issues.

So, though I wasn’t worried about the election of George W. Bush back in the day, I’m not feeling all right today. (But really, in hindsight, doesn’t Dubya look a lot more appealing now in comparison?)

Anyway. For posterity, here is a record of thoughts I posted on other social media, between last night and tonight:

Nov. 8, 7:38 PM Pacific time (while votes were still being counted): Dude, okay USA, we'll save you, but you have to not make fun of our organic kefir habit for like a month after this. Love, the West Coast.

Nov. 8, 9:45 PM (as the vote became clearer): Me before tonight: I don’t know, this story I’m writing about a gay couple encountering prejudice, maybe it’s outdated.
Me tonight: Oh no it f***ing isn’t.

Nov. 9, 6:04 AM (because I woke up too early, unable to fall back asleep, and finally gave in and checked the news): Last night I dreamt I was in a big crumbling house, but friends had made their rooms in it really beautiful. Comfort from subconscious.

6:50 AM: This morning's thought that has helped boost me: well, new wave music arose and flourished under the era of Reagan, Thatcher, and the Cold War. So, creative types (and really everyone is creative if you find the right medium), we are needed and our time may be now.
Everyone line up and get your eyeliner and your mousse and your ruffly shirts! OK, I suppose the dress code is optional, but it could be fun.
Make beautiful stuff, guys. Don't ever stop.

5:28 PM: Nov 9 problems: not wanting to smile at people because I don't want to seem happy about the news, but not wanting to seem hostile by NOT smiling.

And finally, because I hope it gives you at least a brief laugh the way it did for me:

Comments

[sopdetly.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall that phase of yours. I'm quite glad you went through it! I'm also glad we both got through it.

I've seen several people express a desire to have W/Cheney back, or even McCain/Palin or Romney/(...I can't remember!). Which, honestly, just says SO much about our new Fearmongering Leader.

I had 2 experiences with people today. Both were young PoC women. We shared our "I'm alive" state of being, feeling kinda flat otherwise. Tomorrow I go back to work. Man, I should've taken the whole rest of the week...

I want my writing to come back more than ever now. I want to create joy in the face of hate.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Me to Steve lately: "Or Bob Dole. Remember Bob Dole? He wasn't so bad..." :)

But yes - I'm glad we both went through that same character arc! And actually, I met a lot of pretty cool people through that phase (along with a handful of mini-tyrants, but never mind them), so this is reassuring to recall, because it proves people are more nuanced than their voting record might suggest. Let us hope so.

Trying to work on a novel today did completely feel like fiddling while Rome burned or something. But maybe it'll feel normal again tomorrow. Hoping.

[pathvain-aelien.livejournal.com]

I love that pic!

I don't remember that phase of yours (maybe before we were LJ friends?) but I totally agree that Bush wasn't nearly as bad. I don't vote Republican at all, but I didn't have a problem with Romney or McCain, aside from having the different beliefs that come from belonging to different parties. I could easily have accepted them as President with minimum disappointment. That's definitely not the case today.

But hey, my husband got a job offer in Maine, about 5 minutes away from the border. If he accepts, Canada will be a viable option! :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh, Maine would be really cool! (Or at least, I hear good things, and it's not Texas, so.) Fingers crossed for you.

Yeah, Trump just seems to have no qualifications and no real plan, and...wtf is going to happen? May we live in interesting times, and all that...

[pathvain-aelien.livejournal.com]

I think Maine would be awesome. That's where we went for our honeymoon. The only downside (besides being away from family and friends) is that it's a very small city of around 3,000 people. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of jobs unless you want to work border patrol, so that would be hard for me. But I would be thrilled to see snow more than once every few years. :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

That would be a huge change all around! Very Northern Exposure. :) Will keep an eye peeled for updates on what you guys decide to do! Hugs.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

I hereby give you leave NEVER TO WORRY ABOUT FUCKING SMILING AGAIN. That's sexist bullshit. We do not have to bow to it.

I'm still horrified. I worked a little off by writing to Hillary to express my thanks for all her effort. I still can't believe we have this Electoral College HORSESHIT that's saddled us TWICE with Presidents the country didn't want. (No, we don't want him - Hillary won the POPULAR VOTE.) It's pretty awful. I'm not anywhere near trying to be positive. Not yet, maybe not ever.

*hug*

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

True, there's the sexist "Hey sweetie, you should smile" kind of smiling, but I didn't mean that sort. I meant more like smiling at people in a reassuring way so they know I don't want to deport them or lock them up (or their friends, etc.); that sort of thing. Because that's the kind of thing we think about now, apparently. Sigh.

My hope is for the most rousing, triumphant, awesome defeat in 2020, by a fabulous candidate; and, in the meantime, with admittedly some schadenfreude, lots of clusterfuck scandals hobbling the new administration while grownups get things done in the background. But yeah. W.T.F., half of America?

Hug!

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

I've never had a conservative phase, but I am definitely getting more liberal as I age! I tend to think that growing up and older has meant I've met more people and experienced more things and so I have grown in empathy, which makes conservatism a more difficult position to hold. There was precious little kindness in the recent election; the US will have sore need of it in the years ahead, as we do here in the UK.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yes, as I get older I'm finding myself more puzzled and frustrated by people who just dig deeper into their entrenched beliefs rather than trying to become wiser and more understanding with age--which, surely, we'd all aspire to? I do at least hold out hope for both nations thanks to our millennials, who seem to have voted the way we wish more people did!

From Scott - the Ghost Downstairs guy

[(Anonymous)]

I had the same thoughts as you. Except in my fantasy, Justin Trudeau was fully clothed. And carried a light sabre. :)

Re: From Scott - the Ghost Downstairs guy

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

lol - I'm fine with that too! At least we can see quite clearly that we're not alone in this mood. It gives me tentative hope.